Beating Detroit Leadership Academy in Charter School Conference-Silver play on Sept. 27 was already going to be tough enough for Redford Westfield Prep.
The Warriors (2-3, 2-2) entered the game without their starting quarterback, his backup and speedy running back Keshaun Dellihue-Bell, who was in a wrist cast.
Things got worse after halftime with the score tied at 20.
DLA lineman Kobe Sharpe recovered an onside kick. After Gary Humphries scored on a 15-yard run, Sharpe recovered another onside on the ensuing kickoff.
Just like that, the Cougars (0-5, 0-4) had the ball for the entire third quarter, grabbed a one-score lead and forced Westfield to answer without a QB.
And Westfield did. Twice.
Damauri Suber returned an interception 56 yards to set up the Warriors near the red zone. Moments later, he scored on a four-yard wildcat run. Receiver My’tanna Parker added the two-point run for a 28-26 lead with 7:02 left.
Westfield thought it was safe, but Humphries returned the next kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown.
Once again, the Warriors had to drive without a QB. And once again, it was Suber, this time scoring from 17 yards out with Parker adding the two-point run in the waning moments.
“We had a pretty bad week going into this game,” coach Cortreale Starks said after the 36-32 win. “We lost a couple of guys due to behavior issues, and that’s something we have to correct in order for us to have better games like we had last week (in a 6-2 comeback win over Southfield Bradford) because we know what we can do when we’ve got everything in order.”
Westfield didn’t attempt a single pass, leaning on wildcat carries and direct snaps, with a few handoffs to Dellihue-Bell’s backups, William Graves (36 yards, one touchdown) and James Genus (3 yards, one interception on defense).
Suber led with 125 yards and three scores. Parker added 64 yards.
“Both of them are exceptional athletes, but they’re really just receivers and defensive backs,” Starks said. “For us to go under center with them and go direct snap and them to have that success, that’s the offensive line. This is second week in a row where the O-line has showcased a lot of grit up front, and I have to give my hats off to them.”
3 things Folsom knows
3 things Folsom doesn’t know
Folsom’s top 5 rankings
Stat of the week
I didn’t think I’d see a wilder stat line than the one Christian Gillings put up in Farmington’s win over Seaholm. The junior filled in at running back, lined up at receiver and made an impact in every phase. He rushed for a 1-yard touchdown, threw a 46-yard TD pass out of the backfield and returned a fumble 32 yards for another score.
But then rival North Farmington turned in its stats from a 40-21 win over Troy Athens. Terrance James rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns, added 87 yards and another score receiving, and returned one of his two interceptions for a TD. What are they putting in the water in Farmington Hills?
Upcoming game of the week
South Lyon at Mott — This is South Lyon’s biggest game since the 2021 state semifinal against Traverse City Central. The Lions come in as underdogs, but that’s fine — few expected them to upset Western last week. The winner here likely takes the LVC title, a big deal for the Corsairs as they move to the OAA after fall sports end in November.
Where I’m at this week
Livonia Churchill at Westland John Glenn — With Livonia Public Schools moving to the LVC next year, this is the last league meeting between the Newburgh neighbors. The Rockets lead the series 21-11. Coaching legend Chuck Gordon, whose name shares the Irma Kionka-Chuck Gordon Field, told me he’s making his annual trip down from Central Lake, my hometown, for the game.
Hometown Life’s Player of the Year watch list
QB Duke Banta, CC
QB Hudson Smith, Milford
QB Cooper Derkach, Northville
QB Luke Creighton, Salem
RB Donovan Triplett, Western
RB Josh Rogers, Clarenceville
RB Max DeFore, Northville
RB Daelyn Neal, Franklin
RB Tyler Newton, South Lyon
RB Derrick Williams, Country Day
RB Tatum Moore, Redford Union
RB Ben Swisher, Seaholm
WR Samson Gash, CC
WR Herschel McCormack-Reamer, Farmington
WR Christian Gillings, Farmington
WR Luke Beri, Stevenson
WR Kamden Brown, Northville
WR Eric McFarland, Walled Lake Central
WR Jemir Lynum, Redford Thurston
TE Anthony Cartwright, Country Day
OG Benny Eziuka, CC
DL Devin Lillard, Redford Union
DL Brey’lan Little, Redford Westfield Prep
DL Myles Smith, Farmington
LB Johnny Michaels, South Lyon
LB Max Hornbacher, Plymouth
LB Jack Janda, CC
DB Terrance James, North
DB Austin McGarrow, Northville
DB My’tanna Parker, Redford Westfield Prep
Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life. Follow him on his new X.com account at @folsomwrites.
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Folsom: 3 things I know, 3 I don’t and my top 5 football rankings
Reporting by Brandon Folsom, Hometownlife.com / Hometownlife.com
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